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A Transcript Of The Speech Of Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Honourable Minister Of Finance And Coordinating Minister Of The Economy, Nigeria, At The...Mimiko's Budget of "A Caring Heart"
Dr. Olusegun Mimiko's Budget of "A Caring Heart” will radically turn around the fortune of the State as well as her people if judiciously and effectively implemented by Kayode Ajulo, Chairperson, Egalitarian Mission, Africa(EMA)
On Wednesday, 30th December 2009, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, presented a budget of N118.87bn to the State House of Assembly.
The budget, christened, “A Caring Heart Budget,” was N33bn higher than that of 2009.
The budget in keeping faith with the governor’s “I WILL WORK FOR YOU” rhetoric during his inauguration is designed to execute projects that were deliverable and that would create legacies and have positive impact on the majority of people.
I have gone through the budget with the technical aid of my financial consultants/Accountants and I have come into conclusion that the budget if properly implemented will not only ensure accelerated development of the State which has been stifled by the years of locus of the past administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu but will make the majority of the people of Ondo State richer, considering the population of the State with an estimation of 3.5 million, of which the state ranked 20th in the Country.
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. The majority of the state's citizens live in urban centres.
Ondo State contains the largest number of public schools in Nigeria - over 880 primary schools and 190 secondary schools.
In the budget bill 20.37 Billion Naira is earmarked for capital projects while 19 Billion Naira will be used to provide for Social Services.
Environmental and Regional Development including the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission would gulp N19.759bn while Administration Sector takes N16.728 bn.
Construction would gulp N12.307bn, Education N7.724bn, Health Service N4.818bn, and water supply N4.174b, N2.998b will be spent on Agriculture, N3.216bn on Land and Housing while, road maintenance will gulp N1.500bn.
The State House of Assembly should not only immediately passed the budget bill, but should ensure that scheme supervision form is used in implementing each scheme in the budget for proper and effective monitoring of the entire scheme to be done under the budget.
All stakeholders in the state are thereby call to collectively and individually monitor and asses the implementations and overall performance of the budget as I the successful implementation of the budget can only be achieved through concerted efforts from all.
The administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko in bringing succor to the people of State should be given every available support while any constructive criticism of the administration policy and style of governance where necessary should not spared on the altar of sycophancy.
It is on this note I urge the Governor to look inward and resolved that the State must be distinguished from other states in the Federation in term of looking towards and running to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory for monetary handouts.
Economic programmes and fundamentals that will grant the state ultimate financial independent must be put in place, particularly in agriculture, mining, extractive and tourism industries.
With the granting of special status to Ore as Transportation rendezvous, Okitipupa Oil Mill, Ileoluji Cocoa Processing, Ondo Timber Plant, Akoko Cassava Plantation, Idanre Hills and Ebomi lake surely need extraordinary attention from the governor.
The state is blessed with material and human resources, the advent of the present people-oriented administration as a result of the people’s faith in democracy and the judiciary is the icing of the cake the state needs to radically turn around her fortune in being best in the Federation.
*Kayode AJULO, a lawyer, is the Bamofinleye of Akure, Ondo State.
